Human BMP-7 promoter and method for exploring bone-related substance by using the same

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method for exploring low molecular weight compounds which regulate positively or negatively the expression of human BMP-7 with reference to a reporter activity by using 5′ upstream region gene containing the human BMP-7 promoter and an animal cell introduced with the vector that has been connected to an appropriate reporter gene. The low molecular weight compounds and their derivatives obtained by the present method have morphogenetic activity or inhibiting activity for bone and cartilage through the expression of the human BMP-7 and are useful as preventive or therapeutic agents for cartilage and bone diseases. Furthermore, the low molecular weight compounds and their derivatives are useful as therapeutic agents for kidney diseases.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] (1) Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a 5′ upstream region DNA containing a promoter of a human bone morphogenetic protein (hereafter referred to as BMP-7). Further, the present invention relates to a method for exploring a low molecular weight compound positively or negatively which regulates the expression of human BMP-7 by using a mass of animal or yeast cells that are introduced with a recombinant expression vector harboring a 5′ upstream region DNA containing the human BMP-7 promoter integrated into a suitable reporter gene, and by using a reporter activity as an indicator.

[0003] (2) Description of the Related Art

[0004] At present, a bone morphogenetic activity has been reported for a bone morphogenetic factor, BMP, belonging to TGF (transforming growth factor)-β superfamily (Science 150, 893-897, 1965; Science 242, 1528-1534, 1988). Known species of BMP are BMP-1 to BMP-14. Among them, the members from BMP-2 to BMP-14 have been known as showing the bone morphogenetic activity. BMPs ranging from BMP-2 to BMP-14 are considered as effective to therapeutic and preventive treatment for various bone dysfunction and bone diseases, however, they exist in very small amount in nature. Therefore, an available large quantity from BMP-2 to BMP-14 used for these treatments requires production of recombinant protein. The production of the recombinant protein generally is very expensive compared with a low molecular weight compound. Furthermore, there are many restrictions as a medical drug in terms of physical properties and administration methods due to proteinic characteristics. Considering these points, a small molecular organic compound having the activity equal to that of the BMP protein, if any, should be a highly promising medical drug. The substance obtainable with the exploring method provided by the present invention has the activity to induce the expression of human BMP-7, a bone osteogenesis factor, and also has the efficacy equal to that of human BMP-7, representing very high usefulness. On the contrary, if human BMP-7 is concerned with bone and cartilage hyperplasia, inhibiting the expression may prevent osteohyperplasia. The present invention is able to detect the inhibition of the human BMP-7 expression and provides a method for exploring a substance to prevent hyperplasia. In addition, it is known that human BMP-7 has the ability to enhance the differentiation of kidney cells (Proc. Natnl. Acad. Sci., U.S.A., Vol. 93, p. 9021-9026, 1996). Thus, the experimental system provided by the present invention can be applied to a method for exploring the agent for the treatment of the kidney disorder.

[0005] For such an exploring method, an example has been so far only reported using a murine BMP-2 promoter (WO97/15308), and there is no example of using the human BMP-7 promoter. In addition, since the materials of the exploring method provided by the present invention are all derived from human sources, it can be expected that discovered substances should show the effects at clinic practically.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention provides a 5′ upstream region DNA containing a promoter of human BMP-7. By using 5′ upstream region gene containing the human BMP-7 promoter and an animal cell introduced with a recombinant expression vector that has been connected to an appropriate reporter gene, the low molecular weight compounds which regulate positively or negatively the expression of human BMP-7 can be explored with reference to a reporter activity. The low molecular weight compounds and their derivatives have morphogenetic activity and inhibiting activity for bone and cartilage through the expression of human BMP-7 and are effective as preventive or therapeutic agents for cartilage and bone diseases, remedies for osteometastasis, or therapeutic and preventive agents for excess osteogenesis. Furthermore, these low molecular weight compounds and their derivatives are useful as preventive or therapeutic agents for kidney disorders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is an exon-intron structure of 10.8 kb 5′ upstream region of human BMP-7 gene and a restriction enzyme map. A net shape shows an exon region and an open square shows an intron region.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a recombinant expression vector (pMSS115) containing a 5′ upstream region of human BMP-7 gene. A promoter region (4.4 kb) (base No. from 3813 to 8222 shown in SEQ ID NO. 1 of the Sequence Listing, referring from the 2nd XbaI to the 3rd XbaI from 5′ terminal in FIG. 1) was inserted to NheI restriction enzyme site of pGL3-basic.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a result of measuring human BMP-7 promoter activity (transiently expression).

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0010] The present invention relates to a DNA whose nucleotide sequence is represented by the base sequence No. from 1 to 10877 shown in SEQ ID NO. 1 of the Sequence Listing that encodes a human bone morphogenetic protein-7 promoter region, or a fragment thereof. SEQ ID NO. 1 of the Sequence Listing shows the 5′ upstream region sequence of the human BMP-7 gene.

[0011] The present invention relates to a method for preparing the DNA shown in SEQ ID NO. 1 of the Sequence Listing by conducting the steps of:

[0012] (1) digestion of a human placenta genomic DNA with a HindIII restriction enzyme,

[0013] (2) isolation by agarose gel electrophoresis,

[0014] (3) cloning of the isolated DNA fragment digested with HindIII into a lambda phage vector λDASH II treated with the same enzyme,

[0015] (4) packaging of said vector into the phage,

[0016] (5) establishment of genomic DNA library by infecting Escherichia coli with the phage,

[0017] (6) screening by PCR, and

[0018] (7) subcloning into a plasmid vector.

[0019] The plasmid vector used herewith is not restricted and can be used among ones commercialized. A pUC18 vector can be a preferable example.

[0020] The present invention relates to a recombinant expression vector characterized by integration of the full length or a part of DNA shown in SEQ ID NO. 1 of the Sequence Listing into a reporter gene. In detail, the recombinant expression vector is constructed to locate a suitable region of 5′ upstream region of the human BMP-7 gene, that is represented by SEQ ID NO. 1 of the Sequence Listing, in front of a reporter gene. The reporter gene such as luciferase or β-galactosidase gene shows an expressing status on behalf an original product. The vector as the original for the recombination expression vector is not specially restricted to allow to use a plasmid vector commercialized. The present invention used pGL3-basic as a preferable example. The use of pGL3-basic yielded pMSS115 (9.2 kb) that is a recombination expression vector containing the human BMP-7 promoter and a luciferase gene. The present invention assigned it to the recombination expression vector. It is necessary to introduce the vector to mammalian cells, preferably a human osteoblast-like cells, such as SaOS-2 cells, with a liposome. The animal cells stably transfected with the recombinant expression vector are selected by using a resistance marker.

[0021] The present invention relates to a method for exploring a bone-related substance, characterized by using the recombinant expression vector characterized by integration of the full length or a part of DNA shown in SEQ ID NO. 1 of the Sequence Listing into a reporter gene. It relates to the method for exploring a bone-related substance wherein the bone-related substance is osteogenesis inducing substance or a bone-related substance wherein a bone-related substance is osteogenesis inhibiting substance. A low molecular weight compound which induces or inhibits the expression of human BMP-7 can be obtained by isolating the promoter which regulates the expression of the gene, by connecting it to a suitable reporter gene and by introducing the gene structure to a suitable mammal cell to make an exploring system. The substance which regulates the expression of human BMP-7 in the exploring system works on the promoter to increase or decrease the expression level of the reporter gene. Therefore, a simple and easy measurement of the reporter activity makes an exploration of the aimed substance possible.

[0022] The animal cell transfected with said vector can be used for a method for screening a chemical compound library by high throughput screening (Nature, Vol. 384, Suppl., p. 14-16, (1996) and exploring an active-substance from natural substances. The substance which increases or decreases an activity is searched by treating the cell with a substance for an appropriate time period and thereafter measuring the reporter activity. The substance obtained hereby can regulate the expression by working directly on a transcription factor or indirectly on the promoter of human BNP-7 through regulating a signal transduction system. Therefore, these compounds are effective as a therapeutic agent for osteocartilaginous diseases, cancer metastasis to bone, or osteohyperplasia.

[0023] Furthermore, these compounds are useful as a therapeutic agent for kidney disorders.

[0024] The substance obtained by the present invention has bone or cartilage morphogenetic activity and is effective as an agent for therapeutic and preventive treatment in the fields of orthopedic surgery (fracture, osteoarthritis such as joint osteoarthritis and hip joint osteoarthritis, arthrosteitis, damage of cartilage such as damage of meniscus, regeneration of bone and cartilage deficit caused by injury and tumor dissection, bone reconstruction such as spinal fusion and vertebral canal enlargement, and congenital cartilage and bone diseases such as dysoteogenesis and achondroplasia), or dental fields (bone reconstruction such as palatoschisis, mandible reconstruction, and residual ridge construction), and osteoporosis. Moreover, the substance of the present invention can be used for bone graft in aesthetic surgery. These therapeutic treatments are effective to therapies in the fields of veterinary surgery. On the other hand, the present invention can provide a substance to inhibit bone or cartilage morphogenesis. In this case, the substance is applied as an agent for prevention and therapy of bone and cartilarge hyperplasia.

[0025] In addition, the present invention can provide a substance with ability to enhance the differentiation of kidney cells and it can be applied to an agent for the treatment and prevention of the kidney disorder.

EXAMPLES

[0026] This invention shall be more illustratively explained by way of the following Examples. The following Examples are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Example 1 Isolation of 5′ Upstream Region of Human BMP-7 Gene

[0027] A human placenta genomic DNA (a product of CloneTech) was digested by using various kinds of restriction enzymes (BamHI, BglII, EcoRI, HindIII, PstI, SacI, SalI, SmaI, SphI, and XbaI), separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, transferred to a nylon membrane, and subjected to the Southern hybridization using BMP-7 cDNA (EMBO J. 9: 2085-2093, 1990) as a probe. As the result, it was found that digestion by the restriction enzyme HindIII among restriction enzymes used yielded a DNA fragment of ca. 11 kb containing the longest human BMP-7 gene. Then, a human placenta genomic DNA was digested by the restriction enzyme HindIII and separated by agarose gel electrophoresis to extract a DNA fragment of ca. 11 kb from the agarose gel. The DNA fragment obtained was cloned to lambda phage vector λDASH II (Stratagene Ltd. made) digested by the restriction enzyme HindIII. The vector was in vitro packaged by Gigapack III XL Extract (Stratagene Ltd. made), infected to Escherichia coli XL1-Blue MRA (Stratagene Ltd. made) to make a genomic DNA library. The library was divided into pools. Each pool was amplified by a screening (Nucleic Acids Res. 21: 2627-2631, 1993) using PCR; namely, the PCR method by using PCR primers (SEQ ID NO. 2 and SEQ ID NO.3 of the Sequence Listing) corresponding to translation region to select the objective pool, to obtain finally 5′ upstream region (10.8 kb) of human BMP-7 gene. In addition, the 5′ upstream 10.8 kb fragment was subcloned to a pUC18 vector (a product of Amersham Pharmacia Biotech). The vector was named E. coli pKOT 314. The E. coli pKOT 314 was deposited in National Institute of Bioscience and Human-Technology, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, Ministry of International Trade and Industry 1-3, Higashi 1-chome, Tsukuba-shi Ibaraki-ken 305-8566 Japan, in Mar. 30, 1998 with depository number FERM P-16737 and transferred to the International Depository Authority under Budapest Treaty on Feb. 17, 1999 (Deposit No. FERM BP-6651).

Example 2 Determination of DNA Sequence of 5′ Upstream Region of Human BMP-7 gene

[0028] The sequence of 5′ upstream region of human BMP-7 gene obtained was determined by Amersham Pharmacia Biotech's ALF DNA Sequencer according to the method of Sanger et al. (Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 74: 5463-5467. 1977). The sequence thus analyzed is described in SEQ ID NO. 1 of the Sequence Listing. The base sequence No. from 5557 to 10780 of SEQ ID NO. 1 was already been reported (EMBO J. 9: 2085-2093, 1990). However, there are many differences from the sequence of this invention.

Example 3 Construction of a Recombinant Expression Vector Containing the Human BMP-7 Promoter and a Luciferase Reporter Gene

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, the promoter of human BMP-7 exists in the upstream of exon 1. Then, a region of 4.4 kb containing a promoter from XbaI of the second position to XbaI of the third position from the 5′ terminal described in FIG. 1 were—to align in the upstream of the reporter gene—inserted in the restriction enzyme site, NheI, of a luciferase reporter vector pGL3-basic (a product of Pro Mega Ltd.) to construct a recombinant expression vector pMSS115 (9.2 kb). This is presented in FIG. 2.

Example 4 Measurement of the Activity of the Human BMP-7 Promoter (Introduction of a Recombinant Expression Vector to a Human Cell and Transient Expression)

[0030] In order to express transiently the human BMP-7 recombinant expression vector, said recombinant expression vector (pMSS115) was mixed with a vector, pRL-SV40 (a product by Pro Mega Co.) containing sea pansy-luciferase gene as an internal control for measurement of efficiency of gene introduction in equal quantity. Then, cationic liposome lipofectamine (a product of Lifetech Oriental Co.) was added to the mixture solution to add to human osteosarcoma cells HOS, MG63, and SaOS-2 for transfection. Fire fly luciferase activity and sea pansy luciferase activity were measured by Pikka Gene Dual Kit (a product of Toyo Ink Co.). The result is presented in FIG. 3. The promoter activity was expressed as a ratio of fire fly luciferase activity to sea pansy luciferase activity. From the result, it has been known that the DNA of SEQ ID NO. 1 of the Sequence Listing has a promoter activity.

Example 5 Introduction of the Recombinant Expression Vector to a Human Cell and Stabilized Expression

[0031] In order to express the human BMP-7 recombinant expression vector stably, said vector was mixed with a vector pPUR (a product of CloneTech Ltd.) containing puromycin resistant gene in the proportion of 10:1 and also mixed with cationic liposome lipofectamine (a product of Lifetech Oriental Co.) to add to a human osteosarcoma cell HOS for transfection. The cells to which the aimed gene had been introduced were selected from a culture medium containing puromycin (a product of Sigma Ltd.).

Example 6 Screening of Active Low Molecular Weight Compound

[0032] The established cells selected were inoculated in a 96-well plate, treated with substances of various chemical compound libraries for 1-3 days, dissolved with a cytolytic agent (a product of Pro Mega Ltd.), and measured for enzyme activity by employing a luciferase assay kit (a product of Pro Mega Ltd.). By such processes, various substances inducing or inhibiting the expression of human BMP-7 are obtained.

Sequence Listing Free Text

[0033] <210>1

[0034] <223>Human BMP-7 5′ upstream gene sequence including the exon 1 regions.

[0035] <210>2

[0036] <223>Sense PCR primer for cloning 5′ upstream human BMP-7 gene sequence corresponding to the exon 1 region.

[0037] <210>3

[0038] <223>Reverse PCR primer for cloning 5′ upstream human BMP-7 gene sequence corresponding to the exon 1 region.

1 3 1 10877 DNA HUMAN misc_feature (1)..(10877) Human BMP-7 5′ upstream gene sequence including the exon 1 regions. 1 aagcttggac atcagatagc tgtgtcattc atgctaactc ttattagttg ttgcatcata 60 tgtaagatga gctcaaatct gttaatcttc ccatacgatc ttttcacatg agttgggact 120 aacctgttat atttagagta atggtttacc aatggggagg gaataaagat aaaactcgaa 180 gtaaaagaaa gaatacaatt ttttaaatga ggagaaacac agtgaaggag aggagagaag 240 gaagaaaaca acagagatgg agagaagcac gacgtggggt ggtgaggagt tcccaggact 300 ctgggagcga ggagcccagt ctaatccctg attcactgta agactttggg cccagcagtt 360 tctctttggg tgtcaatttc tctatcttca agatgaagga attgaaccac gcttctgcag 420 gacttttgtt gtaactgact ggaaactccg tacacaatgg cttaaactga acagtcctgg 480 gtggggctgg cttcagggat agtgggctcc aggggctcac tgatgctgtc agtctcctgc 540 cttttcttgt tttactgtct tgtggcttct ctcacagggc aggctctccc tgaagggagg 600 gaagatgaca gccagcagca gcccctgacc tagcaacccc agtgggagga gagacccctt 660 taccggtagt tctagcaaaa gttctaaaag ttgaatctca ctggcctgga ttaggtcaca 720 tgactgtcac tgaacccatc gcatgggcat ctctggttga ccaggctggg tcatgtgccc 780 agtctgaatt ttagagaaga ggatagttca acctgaaata cagggactga tggtgaagaa 840 ggggcatttc tactgaggaa aacagaggaa atcttggcca ggcacagtgg cttatgcctg 900 taatcccagc actttgagag gccaagatgg atggattgtt tgaggcccgg agttcaagac 960 cagtctggcc agcgtggtgt aaccctgtct tctactaaaa atacaaaaat tagccaggca 1020 tggtggtgca cacctgtaat tccagctact cgggggggct gaggagggag aattgcttga 1080 aaccgggagg cagaggttac agtgagctga gattgtgcca ttgcactcca gcctgggtga 1140 cagagggaga ctctgtctaa aaaaaaaaag aaaagaaaag aaaacagagg aaatatttgc 1200 agaagaagga gaaaaggcag gggtctcaaa ttaggtgagc ttccaaagtg ttttctgtgg 1260 aaccctggga gcagagaaaa tggtagtgaa aagaaacagg cctggggact ctgggcccct 1320 gctgggatca cctgataaca ggcagggtgt ccagtccgat ttgaacttca gataaacaac 1380 gagtaaattt cagtatgagt atatataata catatactcc aatataatgg gatatagtca 1440 tactaaaatt cattcattgt ttatctgaaa ttcaaattga actggacacc tatttttttt 1500 tttgcaaaat gtggtaaccc tagtccctcc cctgctctat gtaaccaaag aagctctgtt 1560 tctgttttct gtgtcgagca tgtgtgaaaa actccttgac caaaagtttt agcgctgcac 1620 aaaagagaag gcctgtatcc ttttaactga catgattgcc atgccctctc cagctcccca 1680 gtgctgtatc cagcagggct tctggctgca ggcaacagaa accagcttgg gcaggctggt 1740 gcggaaaagg agaccactag aggatcttgg gggctcacag aacccctggg aaggccagag 1800 aaccaggctt gggggctctc tagttgggac acggccccag atcactctgc agaatagtct 1860 gggcctgcac tgatagcttc tggggtgggt gcctctgact ggctgaaact tggtcacctg 1920 tcagggctct ggctgcaaag caggctagac agtgcctctc tggatattca ccagatgggg 1980 catcctcaac cataagagag ggctcagatc tagctgggag gagggagatg ctgaaaagca 2040 ggagcaatga acactcactc ctgctcttgc agatggaatt ctggtttttg atgtttctcg 2100 ggagaggggg agtttatcag atcagtcacc agggccaaac agcagagttt tgctgggaag 2160 ggactctggg gaaggttagg gtcagatttt gcctaaaggg gcagacagtt ccagcctttt 2220 caaccactgg ctcagtagcc ctcgaatcat gaattcaatg gagctgtctt gaaatgcacc 2280 atccttggtg gtcctttggt ttgggtgatg ggttggggga ggctgggcac atcctccaga 2340 cacagcagag ccctttatga ggccaggggc aaaccagatt catcgaatct gactggtaga 2400 tgtgtcttct ttggtctaat aaccaaaacg agttgaatta gttgccaaca gataaacatt 2460 gagagatgtc acattcaaac tcaagtttct agcttctttg gaaaatcaga actttctggt 2520 gatgttggaa tcaaatttct ggatggcatc acccatgggc atgtggtttc cagttcaccc 2580 cagtctgcac cctccttatt tatccaggcc agtgtctcct gccacctgtc accatgtctg 2640 tgctcatgat tgccttccat taaattaaga ggaagagaaa tattccttga gcttcatgtt 2700 gcatctctgt atttatgtta cctggttggt gcccgttggc ttttgagtgt atgacttctg 2760 caataaagga ggaattgaag aagggctcag aggtatgttc ctcaaacact gatagggcat 2820 ctactgtgtg caaggcctcc atgggtactg ggaggtccct acaggactaa gacaaaccct 2880 gtgttttggt gtacctcaat gtttaaggac ttaagtcctg gaacaagata gccggcgtca 2940 gaattctgat tttaccattc actcaccatt ggtgtggctt tgggcaggtt ccctcaagta 3000 tttgagcctc aatttcctca tctgtaaaat ggggataata ataataaaaa tcatacaagg 3060 tagttgggag aattaatgag ttaattttaa aagacacctg gaatcataga tattgaagtt 3120 ttaatttgaa gccccaattt gtcagctata acttcagaaa tctagagcct cgatcgtcaa 3180 catacagcct gaagacgaca gcctccgagc cccccaggag ctagttagaa gtgcagaatc 3240 tcagctcact cagactgact gtgggaatct atgttctaac agacccccag gggattcaca 3300 cgcacagttg ggttggagaa gtgttgcttt aggttaaagc aaggaaggaa ggggctgctc 3360 ccaggtcact gaacgtgcac tgatgcttaa aggcctgggc tgtgtagaca gatgtggctt 3420 tggatcctgg ctccattaca gattagattg gctgtctgac tctggacaag gtgctctcgg 3480 gatgttggtc ctcctctgca atctgaggag cagaactagc ctctccatgc agtggggagt 3540 tgcgggtgat gtgggcttgg gccgtgcagg cctagcaggt gcccagcaga agcaagtgct 3600 cccaacaggt gacaggtcgg ccgctcccct gtcacgtttt ggaaggagga aagggctacc 3660 tctagtgctg aaccgaggat agttagtgct caaaaccata ccagatttcc tccaatcaag 3720 gaagaaataa cagccctgat aataataaac aaaaccactg cttcccccta gctggcttcc 3780 agatcctaga aatcctgcat ggtatcagct tctctagagt gtgtgtgtcg tctgtatttt 3840 ccatttggaa ctgtggccac tgccatgtgt acttaagact gatggaagac gtttaatctc 3900 ttattctgct gcttttaaag ttgtgcaaag aaaatctcag agtgggcaag cgtgaggagt 3960 ccaagcctcc cgtgcaatga gagatctgcg tgggaaacaa aatttcacca caggtgtgct 4020 ctaataattt cctctgcagg gtccacctct gcacacaacg attttcaagc ctgtgcagga 4080 ggcagctctt ggccctctat tccttgttgg ggttggaggt ccaggtcatc tggcctttgc 4140 caggtggtgt ggacagagag agagcagccc actggcttcc ttggctgtgc tccccaggga 4200 gcttccaggc cagctgagcc tcctctaggg cagatggatg aagatgaggt ccccacctcg 4260 ctgaacaatg tgtgtgtcag cagaattctt ttcttctttt tactgcctta gagagacatg 4320 ctgacttggt caaaatcact tcagcaagat gtgactgatg atgtaggaaa tgaaaactcc 4380 tggcccagca ctgggaggcc agcaggcgag gggcgcggac actgggaccg ggccacccga 4440 cacaataaca ccccttacaa ttccaggccg tctttcatcc aggcaaaggc ggccccaggt 4500 gtggagcaga ctggggcaga tcagattacg gtcctggagc ccagtgctgg gtgccctggc 4560 caggggaacc acaactgggg gtgtgtgggt tgggggctag ctgctgggga aatgagatag 4620 gacccaggga agtccctggg ccccagctgg cctgcagggg gcctaggcac aatgtgagga 4680 ttggaatgca gtgatgacct tttcatctct catgttccct tccacttcac tctctctttt 4740 gctctggtac ttttgctctt gctctcagag tcaggataca tctgcttttc tctgcttggc 4800 aaaaagcaga ccatcatgaa aagttttgtt gtaatttgaa actcaggagg ctttcctgtt 4860 accatatttt ccttttcatc cagatggtaa cacaataaca tttatcaagg gttttctctg 4920 tgttccaggc actgtgcaaa gccctttcca tgaattaagt tctgcaacct cacagcgatc 4980 ccagaagaca ggcgctatca gtccccccat tttacagatg ggggaactga ggtgtagaga 5040 ggttaagtcc cttgcccatg gtgcacagct ggaagagaca gagctggagt gtgaatgcgg 5100 ctgggcaggc tccagtgccc aggctacctc ctccacacaa gacttgccct cggcaatctc 5160 aaagcctttt ctggtggtgg gctcagctcc caaactggca tcggatgcac tcccagccag 5220 atatttcttg cttgccggtt ttcattcatt cattcattca ttcattcatt cattcattcg 5280 gcattcactg agggcctggt gcagtcttgg ggatgcctct cggggaggaa acagggaaaa 5340 gaaagacccc cccaccaagc atggatcaca gaaaagataa ggctaaatgg gggtttgtgg 5400 gacttcagag gaaaccttat ctcttgaggt cttggatatg aagagcatgt tgtctcttcc 5460 tcttgcatga gaaaagatgg cgtctcagag gaagggttgc tggggtgagg gatctgggag 5520 atgccttagc ttggcgcctg cacagtcagc cctcagtcaa ccggtctctt taggttttgg 5580 ctgtgcttat tactattcat tcaacaggta ctaattgagc acctgctgtg tgccaggctc 5640 agaataggct caggtgagat gcacaaagaa gggtaaacta gaatccttgc ttagacactg 5700 acggatcagt tgtttcatat gtaaattgta gcaccaagac ctgctgcccc tgcccccagc 5760 ctcacctgct tgtgaagatc cctccaaaag atttgagagt agataaaaag cagagactac 5820 tactgaagaa cagggctgct ttggctcctt attatttcag actttggaag aaaatgacct 5880 cctttttctc tactggcact ggaggtggca tagctgtccc tagcaagcca gcgctggagg 5940 gcgtgtgcag ggctggggac cgagcctggt ttctgttccc tgctctgcag gctcaagcac 6000 ttgctgttcc tccacctggg atgcctttcc ctggaaaagc ctgtctcttt cttgtctttc 6060 aggactcagg tcagtggcat ctcctccaaa aactcccctt cccaccctcc atcacctcac 6120 cctgtttatc tgcgcccccg cccccactgc ctgtcactta ttgcaggctg aagtgaccca 6180 ggctctccag ttgtacactc tcagatggac cctggacgac tgtggcactc ctgcaatttc 6240 cccagtctcc ctggggtagg attcctgctt gccaggatgc ccacctttcc ttctccctcc 6300 tgcatgtcct cctctgcctg gcttctgaat tgttcccaga gagagtgata gacaagatct 6360 gcctctcctt cagtccctga atcttattta aggctcttgc tttgcttccc tggcctggag 6420 gcggctcctt gatggagtct gccatgtggg ttcgctcatg gccatgtctt cctgcccagc 6480 atggtgcttg gccctgggac tggccacata atatctgggc caggtgcaaa attagtacgg 6540 ggcagggggt actttgttca taggtgattc agaaccacat atggtgacct cagagtagga 6600 aaccaagtgt ggggccctta agagctgggg ggccctgtac gactgtccag gttgcaggcc 6660 ccacagctcg cctcctgata tcctgtgctc catgcttgtc tgttgaagga aggagtgaat 6720 ggatgaagag caggtggtgg gggtggtttg agggccttgc tggtgggtgg gtagaggccc 6780 ctccctggca tggggctcaa gacctgttcc atcccacagc ctggggcctg tgtgtaaatg 6840 gccaggacct gcaggctggc atttttctgc tccttgcctg cctctggcct cccctttctc 6900 cacccatgtg gcccctcagg ttgccatcta gtccaaaagt ccccaaggga gacccagagg 6960 gccacttggc caaactactt ctgctccaga aaactgtaga agaccataat tctcttcccc 7020 agctctcctg ctccaggaag gacagcccca aagtgaggct tagccagagc ccctcccaga 7080 caagcgcccc cgcttcccca acctcagccc ttcccagttc atcccaaagg ccctctgggg 7140 acccactctc tcacccagcc ccaggagggg aaggagacag gatgaacttt taccccgctg 7200 ccctcactgc cactctgggt gcagtaattc ccttgagatc ccacaccggc agagggaccg 7260 gtgggttctg agtggtctgg ggactccctg tgacagcgtg catggctcgg tattgattga 7320 gggatgaatg gatgaggaga gacaggagag gaggccgatg gggaggtctc aggcacagac 7380 ccttggaggg gaagaggatg tgaagaccag cggctggctc cccaggcact gccacgagga 7440 gggctgatgg gaagccctag tggtggggct ggggtgtctg gtctcaggct gaggggtggc 7500 tggaaagata cagggccccg aagaggagga ggtgggaaga acccccccag ctcacacgca 7560 gttcacttat tcactcaaca aatcgtgact gcgcacgtac agtggctacc aggcgctggg 7620 ttcaaggcac tgcgggtacc agaggtgcgg agaagatcgc tgatccgggc cccagtgctc 7680 tgggtgtcta gcgggggtaa gaaggcaata aagaaggcac ggagtaactc aaacagcaat 7740 tccagacagc aagagaaact acaggaaaga aaacaaacgt gcgaggggcg aggcgaggaa 7800 acaacctcag cttggcaggt cttggaggtc tctgggagga gaaagcagcg tctgatgggg 7860 gcgggaggtg gtgagtgggg agaggtccag gcggagggaa tggcgagcgc agagacaggc 7920 tggcaacggc ttcagggagg cgcggagggg tcagcgtggc tggcttaaaa ggatacatgg 7980 gactgagggg caagaccggc tcaagggtca ccgcttccag gaagccttct atttccgcgc 8040 caacctcggc gctcccccaa cttttcccac cgcggtccgc agcccacccg tcctgctcgg 8100 gccgccttcc tggtccggac cgcgagtgcc gagagggcag ggccggctcc gattcctcca 8160 gccgcatccc cgcgacgtcc cgccaggctc taggcacccc gtgggcactc agtaaacatt 8220 tgtcgagcgc tctagaggga atgaatgaac ccactgggca cagctggggg gagggcgggg 8280 ccgagggcag gtgggaggcc gccggcgcgg gaggggcccc tcgaagcccg tcctcctcct 8340 cctcctcctc cgcccaggcc ccagcgcgta ccactctggc gctcccgagg cggcctcttg 8400 tgcgatccag ggcgcacaag gctgggagag cgccccgggg cccctgctat ccgcgccgga 8460 gttggaagag ggtgggttgc cgccgcccga gggcgagagc gccagaggag cgggaagaag 8520 gagcgctcgc ccgcccgcct gcctcctcgc tgcctccccg gcgttggctc tctggactcc 8580 taggcttgct ggctgctcct cccacccgcg cccgcctcct cactcgcctt ttcgttcgcc 8640 ggggctgctt tccaagccct gcggtgcgcc cgggcgagtg cggggcgagg ggcccggggc 8700 cagcaccgag cagggggcgg gggtccgggc agagcgcggc cggccgggga ggggccatgt 8760 ctggcgcggg cgcagcgggg cccgtctgca gcaagtgacc gacggccggg acggccgcct 8820 gccccctctg ccacctgggg cggtgcgggc ccggagcccg gagcccgggt agcgcgtaga 8880 gccggcgcga tgcacgtgcg ctcactgcga gctgcggcgc cgcacagctt cgtggcgctc 8940 tgggcacccc tgttcctgct gcgctccgcc ctggccgact tcagcctgga caacgaggtg 9000 cactcgagct tcatccaccg gcgcctccgc agccaggagc ggcgggagat gcagcgcgag 9060 atcctctcca ttttgggctt gccccaccgc ccgcgcccgc acctccaggg caagcacaac 9120 tcggcaccca tgttcatgct ggacctgtac aacgccatgg cggtggagga gggcggcggg 9180 cccggcggcc agggcttctc ctacccctac aaggccgtct tcagtaccca gggcccccct 9240 ctggccagcc tgcaagatag ccatttcctc accgacgccg acatggtcat gagcttcgtc 9300 aacctcggtg agtaagggca ggcgagggta cgcgtctcct ttcgggggca ctttgagact 9360 gggagggagg gagccgcttc ttctatgcag cccgcccagc tttccgctcc tggctgaaat 9420 cgcagtgcct gcccgagggt ctcccaccca cagccctatg actcccaagc tgtgtgcgcc 9480 cccaggtcgg gcgcgctggg ttcggtgagc ctgtaggggt tactgggaag gagggatcct 9540 ccgaagtccc ctccatgtta cgccgccggc cgcatctctg gggctggagg caagggccgt 9600 tcaaagcgcg gggctcggtc atgtgagctg tcccgggccg gcgcggctcg cgtaacctgg 9660 atgtaaaggg cccttcccgg cgaggctgcc ttgccgccct tcctgggccc ctctcagccc 9720 tgcctggccc tggcatcgcg gccgtcgcac ccccttaccc tccctgtcaa gccctacctg 9780 tcccctcgtg gtgcgcccgc cttagcgtac cgcgcgctcc gagcgcttgg ggcccctctc 9840 cgggccgccg gatgccccat tctctcttgg ctggagctgg ggaagaaacg gtgccattgc 9900 taattttctt tgttttcttt ctttgtttat tttttttctt ttttcttttt ttttcttttc 9960 ttttcttttc tttttttttt ttttttgaga cggagttcac tcttgtcgcc cagtctggag 10020 tgcaatggcg cgatctctgc tcaccgcaac ctctgcctcc cgggttcaag cgattctcgt 10080 gcctcagcct cccgagtagc tgggattaca gcatgcgcca ccatgcctgg ctaattttgt 10140 atttttagta gagacagggt ttctccatgt taggcaggct ggtctcgaac tcccgatctc 10200 aggtgatcct cccgcctcag cctcccaaag tggtgctggg attacaggcg tgagccactg 10260 tgccctgccg ctagtcttct attttaagta tttagtggta ggtcccgggc cggcagaatc 10320 tattttcagc atttaccacg tgtggcgcgc aaaccacagg ttttggcgat tgggttgcgc 10380 gggatctcag actgacgcgc gggggcggct gggggtcccg gtttccgact ggagccgcga 10440 cgaccccggc gacgcgagcc tggggctgca gcgagggccg gggagctccc cctccatatg 10500 tgcgcgcaca ttctccagac ttgctcaaac taaccccccg cggcgccagc gcgctgcggg 10560 actgatgatc aaatatttgg tttccgagat aacacacccc gatagcgctg tttcctgagc 10620 cgctttcatt ctacttgtgt aacttgctgc gaaaacccga accaagtcaa gacagcaaac 10680 tcaccccacg ggcgctgtgt caacatggaa ataatgatac tgaagcccca cgctgggcac 10740 ctggggcgtg gactgggggc gcgggggaag cgcagatccg ccttcatgct tcccccctcc 10800 tgataaggtc cctggagttc ccgggaggcc attgtctgta cttaataata actaaatcca 10860 actagtgaac caagctt 10877 2 30 DNA HUMAN misc_feature (1)..(30) Sense PCR primer for cloning 5′ upstream human BMP-7 gene sequence corresponding to the exon 1 region. 2 gggcgcagcg gggcccgtct gcagcaagtg 30 3 30 DNA HUMAN misc_feature Complement((1)..(30)) Reverse PCR primer for cloning 5′ upstream human BMP-7 gene sequence corresponding to the exon 1 region. 3 agaggatctc gcgctgcatc tcccgccgct 30 

What is claimed is:
 1. A DNA whose nucleotide sequence is represented by the base sequence No. from 1 to 10877 shown in SEQ ID NO. 1 of the Sequence Listing that encodes a human bone morphogenetic protein-7 promoter region, or a fragment thereof.
 2. A method for preparing the DNA shown in SEQ ID NO. 1 of the Sequence Listing comprising the steps of: (1) digestion of a human placenta genomic DNA with a HindIII restriction enzyme, (2) isolation by agarose gel electrophoresis, (3) cloning of the isolated DNA fragment digested with HindIII into a lambda phage vector λDASH II treated with the same enzyme, (4) packaging of said vector into the phage, (5) establishment of genomic DNA library by infecting Escherichia coli with the phage, (6) screening by PCR, and (7) subcloning into a plasmid vector.
 3. A recombinant expression vector characterized by intearation of the full length or a part of DNA shown in SEQ ID NO. 1 of the Sequence Listing into a reporter gene.
 4. The method for exploring a bone-related substance characterized by using the recombinant expression vector according to claim
 3. 5. The method for exploring a bone-related substance according to claim 4, wherein the bone-related substance is osteogenesis inducing substance.
 6. The method for exploring a bone-related substance according to claim 4, wherein the bone-related substance is osteogenesis inhibiting substance.
 7. The method for exploring a substance effective at the treatment of a kidney disorder by using a recombinant expression vector according to claim
 3. 